Automobile instrument-board



T. ZIMMERMAN. AUTOMUBILE INSTRUMENT BOARD.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.24| l9`l6.

Patented Dec; 28, 1920.

Hamas Zimmerman @Vi/themes @and a Nonnen UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS ZIMMERMAN, OF NIAGARA FALLS. NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO U. S. LIGHT & HEAT CORPORATION, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

AUTOMOBILE INSTRUMENT-BOARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 24, 1916. .Serial No. 116,620.

T0 all lwhom t may concer/n:

Be it known that I. THOMAS ZIMMERMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Niagara Falls, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automobile Instrup a generator is driven by the automobile engine to supply current to a storage battery and electric lights, a switch should be provided to control the output of the generator. When the battery shows evidences ot being fully charged and much running is being done during the hours of daylight when no lights are on, said switch is operated to kill the excitation of the generator, in order that the battery may not be overcharged. Il: a light should be turned on, it is desirable that the generator should be operative to supply the current thereior, rather than drawing on the battery. Therefore, said switch should not be opened while a lamp is on nor should a lamp be turned on when said switch is open. Furthermore, it is desirable that the operator should. be able to lock said lamps against tampering by unauthorized persons. l

An object of the present invention is to provide interlocking means whereby the operation of the lights is dependent upon the generator controlling means and vice versa.

A further object is to provide locking means for said lights which locking means will cooperate with the interlocking means above referred to.

Further objects will be apparent description proceeds.

Referring to the drawings- Figure 1 represents an elevation, in section, according to the present invention, said section being taken along the line 1, 1, of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 lis a plan view of the instrument board with the cover plate broken away.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view, similar to Fig. 1, the section being taken along the line 3, 3, of Fig. 2.

The body portion of the instrument board is indicated as a whole by the numeral 10. Mounted on the body portion are a plurality of studs 11, which may be circular in outas the line or of any other suitable configuration. The body portion 10 and studs 11 will preferably be composed of insulating material, preferably bakelite. Mounted on said studs 11 are a plurality of switch stop plates 12, 12, each provided with a set of depending iingers 13, 13, the purpose of which will be presently described. Slidably mounted above the stop plates 12, 12, are the locking plate 14 and the interlocking plate 15.l A cover plate 16 is'provided, covering said locking plate 14 and interlocking plate 15.

Projecting through the cover plate 16 are a number of switch members 17, 18, 19, 2O and 21. Each of the switch members is similar in construction to each of the others, so a. description of one will sutlice for all. lach switch member is provided with a shank 22 having a collar 23. The lower portion of each shank is formed to provide conical portions arranged with a common base, which base is indicated by the numeral 24. The dimensions of the upper conical portion of each shank may be so chosen that its upward travel may be limited by the adjacent stop plate 12.

Surrounding each shank is a coil spring 25 arranged to form a ring. This spring 25 will be of such dimensions as to snuglv lit the small ends ot the conical portion oi the shank 17. Each spring 25 has mounted thereon a contact yoke 26 adapted under certain conditions to span contacts 27, 27 The spring 25 and yoke 26 are capable of movement in a vertical direction, being limited in the upward direction by the fingers 13, 13 and being limited in the downward direction by the contacts 27, 27. It will be clear that if a switch be open, as all the switches are in Fig. 1, and the shank of said switch be drawn outwardly, the spring 25 will be distended until the base line 24 passes therethrough, after which the spring will quickly snap the yoke 26 downwardly into contact with contacts 27, 27, riding down the lower conical por tion of the shank 22. It said switch is closed and it is desired to open it, an inward movement of the shank will cause the spring 25 to be distended until the base line 24 passes therethrough, after which the spring 25 will quickly snap to its upper position, in which the yoke 26 will be stepped by the lingers 13, 13..

The configuration of the locking plate 14 and the interlocking plate 15 will be clear from the drawing. Said plates lie in parallel relation. T he locking plate 14 is provided with a laterally projecting linger 28. A spring 29 acts between said linger 28 and a part ot the interlocking plate 15 to urge said locking plate 14 in a lett hand direction and said interlocking plate 15 in a right hand direction. Said spring 29 is shown as mounted in a stud 30, which, in turn, may be mounted in any suitable way.

The' interlocking means which includes the interlocking plate 15, will now be described. rlhe connections through which switches 17, 1S, 19, 20 and 21 control their respective circuits are not illustrated, the same not being necessary for a complete understanding of the present invention. will be sullicient to state that the switch 17 is the switch which controls the output of the generator. lllfhen said switch is closed, the generator will bc operative to supply current, providing the generator is operating at sullicient speed. "When said switch is open, as it should be when the battery is charged and a long stretch oi' daylight running is being done, the generator will be inoperative, thus saving the battery from overcharge and saving an unnecessary drag on the engine. Said switch may be referred to as the touring switch. Switches 13, 19, 2l) and 21 may control the various lighting ci rcuits or" the automobile, as for instance, the head lights, side lights and tail light, or a any other desired circuits. rthe interlocl g plate 15 is provided with a plurality ot' upstanding lingers 31, 32, 33, 34 and 35, bent up troni the side of said plate 15. its illustrated in the drawing, finger 31 is adapted to engage the right hand side of the shank or switch 17, whereas lingers 32, 33, 34 and 35 are adapted to engage the leit hand sides of the shanks oic switches 18, 19, 2O and 21 respectively. 1t will be noted that each of the collars 23 on the switches 17-21 is beveled on its upper side, the beveled portion merging into the shank or'l the switch. It will be clear that it the shanks ot switches 18, 19, 2O and 21 are in their down positions, so that said switches are open, said switches will be prevented from closure the switch 17 is open, as illustrated in ig. 1. It the shank or switch 17 be drawn upwardly, thus closing said switch, the collar 23 will be removed trein engagement with the linger 31 of the interlocking plate 15. Any of the switches 18-21 may now be operated, the locking plate 14 being presumed to be in inoperative position. rllhat is to say, the touring switch 17 being closed, any ot the lamps may be turned on or oli, at will. As illustrated in Fig. 3, switches 18 and 19 are closed, while switches 20 and 21 are open. As long as any one of switches 18, 19, 2O or 21 is closed, its collar 23 will hold the interlocking plate 15 to the left, whereby the linger 31 will project under the collar 23 of the switch 17, preventing the operation of said switch. ing switch 17 may not be opened when any of the lamps are on. Alter all the lamp switches have been opened, however, the shanks ot switches 1S, 19, 20 and 21 will be in their inner positions and the interlocking plate 15 will be thrust to its right hand position by the spring 29 freeing the linger 31 lroin the collar 23 ot the switch 17, whereby tue operator may operate said switch 17 as he desires.

1n the above discussion, the locking plate has been presumed to be in inoperative position. Said locking plate 14 is provided with upstanding lingers 36, 37, 33 and 39 adapted to engage the left hand sides oitl the Shanks of switches 18, 19, 2O and 21 re` spectively. Said locking plate is urged in the lett hand direction, as represented in the C 'awing, by the spring 29. When said locking plate is in its right hand position, the fingers 3G, 37, 3S and will lock the switches 18, 19, 20 and 21 respectively in either open r closed position, depending upon where said switches have been placed prior to the movement of the locking plate 14 to the right. Said locking plate is provided with a slot 40, which has connnunicat ing therewith a notch 41. lvlounted in the cover` plate 16, above the location' or said slot 40, is a lock cylinder 42. Said cylinder ay 3e rotated by means oi' any suitable i. Said key should be arranged so that ay be withdrawn 'from the cylinder only f said cylinder is in one of two angular positions at 180 degrees iroin one another. laid cylinder 42 is provided with a locking pin 43, adapted to ride in the slot 40 in the locking plate 14. lNhen the cylinder 42 is turned so that the pin 43 is in its extreme right hand position, which is one of the positions at which the key may be with drawn, said pin will be located in the notch 41, and the locking plate 14 will be held against the tension of the spring 29 in its right hand position. This is the locking or operative position of the locking plate. l/Vhen the operator desires to unlock the lamp switches, he will insert the key and turn the cylinder 42. rlhe locking plate will be urged slightly in the right hand direction to permit the pin 43 to pass the notch 41. The spring 29 will now urge the locking plate to the lett as far as permitted hy the pin 43. The operator will turn the cylinder until the pin snaps into the notch 41, and may then withdraw the key. The locking plate 14 will now be held in unlocking or inoperative position. It has not been considered necessary to illustrate the locking plate 14 with a linger locking the touring switch 17, as in practice no locking Therefore, the tourmeans for said switch will ordinarily be considered desirable. Opening and closing of the touring switch when the automobile is at a standstill, will be of no consequence.

In describing the present invention, it has been necessary to refer to specific features of the invention in .order that the description may be sufficiently definite to be readily understood. The specific details have been chosen for convenience. Many modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is desired in this case to cover all such modifications that fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s-

l. In combination, a touring switch, and translation device switches, and interlocking means coperating with said switches to prevent the closure of any of said translation device switches when said touring switch is o en.

IiZ. In combination, a switch, other switches, and interlocking means coperating with said switches, said interlocking means being provided with a plurality of switch engaging means, biasing means normally urging certain of said engaging means into engagement with said other switches, any of said other switches being adapted, under certain circumstances, to move one of said engaging means into locking engagement with said first mentioned switch.

3. In combination, a switch, other switches, interlocking means coperating with said switches, said interlocking means being provided with a plurality of switch engaging means, biasing means lnormally urging certain of said engaging means into engagement with said other switches, said first mentioned switch when in open position being adapted to hold certain of said engaging means in locking engagement with said other switches.

4.-. In combination, a switch, other switches, interlocking means governing said switches, locking means governing certain of said switches, and common biasing means coperating with said interlocking means and said locking means.

5. In combination, a switch, other switches, an interlocking plate provided with fingers adapted to engage said switches to prevent the closure of said other switches when said irst mentioned switch is open, a locking plate adapted to lock said other switches in certain desired positions, and common spring means coperating with said two plates.

6. In combination, a switch, other switches, interlocking means adapted to engage said switches'to prevent the closure of any of said qother switches when said first mentioned switch is open, locking means adaptcd to lock said other switches in certain desired positions, and common biasing means coperating with said interlocking means and said locking means.

7. In combination, aswitch, other switches, an interlocking plate provided with fingers adapted to engage said switches to prevent the opening of said first mentioned switch when any of said other switches is closed, a locking plate adapted to lock said other switches in certain desired positions, and common spring means coperating with said two plates.

8. In combination, a switch, other switches, interlocking means adapted to engage said switches to prevent the opening of said first mentioned switch when any of said other switches is closed, locking means adapted to lock said other switches in certain desired positions, and common biasing means coperating with said interlocking means and said locking means.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

THOMAS ZIMMERMAN. 

